Chapter 29. THE POSITION IS YOURS
(Sienna)
One week before Christmas Day, Maggie and I flew to New York. She buzzed with excitement during the whole trip, acting like a kid in a candy store. I’d splurged on first-class tickets, and she made the most of it, constantly asking for champagne and munching on all the fancy food from the in-flight menu. Meanwhile, I couldn’t manage to eat a thing. I was anxious about meeting William and confronting him about the circumstances surrounding his exit from Cos Pharmaceuticals.
We hopped in an Uber straight from JFK airport to Cos Pharma offices. Maggie wasted no time and checked in our luggage at the reception before embarking on a shopping spree that would keep her occupied until my meeting with William concluded.
New York City was in full-on Christmas mode. The streets bustled with tourists and last-minute shoppers. I’d already sorted out gifts for Maggie, Zayn, Noah, and Ander, so at least that was already covered. As we were saying our goodbyes last night, I extended my Christmas wishes to the guys and assured them I’d find some time in the new year to get together and swap presents before our classes resumed. For the past few days, I had kept my interactions with Ander to a minimum, keeping my distance as much as possible. I wouldn’t be able to stop myself if he were to kiss me again, and that wasn’t an option.
Just a couple of steps past the threshold of our office building, beads of sweat formed on my forehead. I had crafted my speech to the tiniest detail and practiced it a hundred times over, yet as I approached the main reception area, every carefully memorized word suddenly vanished from my mind like smoke in the wind.
“Good morning, Miss Moore. Mr. Scott is waiting for you. Would you like me to bring you some coffee? Maybe some pastries?” Just what my racing heart needed: caffeine.
“No, thank you.”
Handing over my coat and purse, I squared my shoulders and straightened my posture, trying to present myself as a poised and confident businesswoman. With a newfound—but completely fake—determination, I strode toward the glass room where William awaited me.
“Good morning, Sienna. You look lovely.”
I narrowed my eyes. William had never given me a compliment about my looks, so I assumed he was attempting to butter me up or perhaps testing the waters in some way.
“Thank you,” I politely responded. “Not only for the compliment but for coming to our offices on such short notice. I know the week before Christmas is busy in this line of business.”
He smiled and waved his hand, inviting me to take a seat in front of him.
“So to what do I owe this pleasure? I doubt it’s just to wish me a Merry Christmas. A card would have sufficed for that.”
I don’t know what it was about him that always made me feel small when I was around him, but I tried not to show the effect his words had on me.
“As you well know, I’m already aware of your sudden interest in rejoining our wonderful team, so I just wanted to have the opportunity to discuss the position with you and ask you why you think you’re the best candidate.”
He shifted in his chair and ran his right hand through his ash-blond hair, releasing a chuckle.
“Sienna. Cut the bullshit. I know why you called me in, so get to the point. No need to beat around the bush.”
I released a long breath before I spoke. “I know why you left the company.”
“Do you now?” he said, lifting both eyebrows.
“Yes, I know. But I want to hear it directly from you. And I want the whole truth. I’ll know if you’re lying to me.”
“I doubt it. I’m a great poker player, but if you want the truth, the truth you shall have.” He reached for the carafe of water resting on the table, handling it with deliberate care. He poured a glass of water for both of us, taking his time in the process. His sipping was so unhurried that it almost felt like he was competing for a Guinness World Record in the category of the slowest water drinker. My left eye began to twitch.
“Six years ago, Michael approached both your father and me regarding some financial irregularities he’d uncovered. Your father appeared to have forged documents and redirected funds allocated for certain projects into an offshore account in Panama. As you may already be aware, these projects turned out to be nonexistent.”
William’s gaze shifted nervously from side to side, and he couldn’t resist fidgeting with his watch every few seconds. I thought to myself that it was the first time I’d seen William anxious, but with everything at stake for him, I could imagine keeping his composure must have been difficult.
“When I confronted your father, he explained that your family faced severe financial difficulties. He claimed to have made some successful investments and intended to return the money before anyone noticed. In short, he swore that he would return the money, but our trust was irrevocably shattered, so I presented your father with my resignation a couple of weeks later. Because of our years of friendship, he implored me to keep the matter confidential. Apparently, Michael and Peter had already agreed to sweep it under the rug as long as the money was returned. That marked the end of our friendship.”
His version mirrored the narrative that Michael and Peter had previously shared with me, and once again, I found myself profoundly disturbed by my father’s actions.
“Why didn’t you go to the authorities about my father? You had the option to do so. You could have kept your position at Cos Pharma, perhaps even becoming the sole shareholder.” I knew William enough to know that he didn’t engage in acts of charity solely for altruistic reasons. It always baffled me how two individuals with such contrasting personalities could be such good friends. He, after all, was an egocentric, selfish bastard with a God complex, whereas my father was a man of steadfast principles. I guess I was wrong after all.
“Did you know your father and I became friends in high school? After graduating, we went to Stanford, just like you, and our friendship strengthened. We once were more than friends; he was my family, my brother. He was the one who introduced me to my former wife, Nora. I owed him a lot, so that was my way of repaying him. But after that, we were done; he said he wasn’t resigning, so I did. He could have come to me, and I would have gladly helped him.”
His words hit deeper than I had expected, to the extent that I found myself feeling sympathy for the man seated across from me.
He gave up his dream; after all, Cos Pharma was as much his creation as it was my father’s.
“Do you have any more questions?”
“Why now? Why do you want back in?” I asked him.
“Come on, Sienna, you’ve known me for quite some time. Do you honestly believe I would have returned while your father still ran the company? Not a chance, even in a hundred years. His unfortunate death provided an opportunity to come back, and I have a business mind. I’m genuinely sorry for your loss, but I must be honest. After all, Cos Pharma was as much mine as it was his.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose with my fingers in an attempt to bring some relief to the impending migraine. I still had some more questions, so I continued with my interrogation.
“Why did you throw away the letters I sent to Ander?”
William rubbed a hand down his face before he answered.
“I was angry, and after leaving the company, my mood changed. As you’re aware, Nora divorced me, and regrettably, your letters arrived during some of the darkest days of my life. I threw them away and unjustly punished you and Ander for your father’s and my own errors. It was unfair, and for that, I do apologize.”
His words didn’t change the fact that his and my own father’s actions had caused me to lose my best friend, but oddly, they did bring some kind of closure. I had made up my mind. I just hoped I wasn’t making a big mistake.
“The position is yours.”
“Excuse me?”
Was William not anticipating my response this quickly, or was he deaf?
“I said that the position is yours. Don’t make me regret it, William. I’ll communicate my decision to the board this afternoon. Accept this as an early Christmas present.”
I dragged the chair backward with the intention of getting up and out of that fish tank, but before I could stand, William said, “What are you doing for the holidays? Are you staying at Moore Manor?”
I nodded.
Why did he care?
“Why don’t you spend the holidays with us? I’m sure Ander would be thrilled to spend some time with you.”
I doubted that.
“In fact, why don’t you stay until after New Year’s Eve? Claudia has planned a decadent party, and I’d like to have you there. It could be like a fresh start for both of us. What do you say?”
“I would need to ask your son, and I’ve brought a girlfriend from college with me, so it’s not just me you’d be inviting over to your home.” I didn’t want to sound like I was blurting excuses, but I worried that Ander wouldn’t be pleased to see me.
“The more, the merrier. Initially, I believed it might have been just a phase, but he likes you. Claudia will also be pleased to have other women around.”
William was clearly extending an olive branch, and I didn’t want to start our new business venture by rejecting his proposal.
“If you insist, we would love to join you. Thank you for the invitation.”
He clasped both hands together, pleased with my acceptance.
“Fantastic. The party is ‘Venetian Summer Night,’ black tie etiquette is required, so please bring an evening gown. Claudia shipped extra masks from Italy in case she changed her outfit at the last minute, so I’m sure she won’t mind lending you a couple of them. Let me know if you want me to send a car to pick you up.”
The sudden change in his attitude gave me whiplash, but when I left that office, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.